#AdvoCare 24-Day Challenge: Day 16 (Before/After Pictures + More)

Yes, I know. I said that I wouldn't update again until the final day of the AdvoCare 24-Day Challenge. Well, things change, and I wanted to touch base and discuss a little more about the Max Phase and how I'm feeling overall.

I'm officially on Day 16 of the AdvoCare 24-Day Challenge.

That means that it's been 16 days since I've had a Red Bull or a pop (that's soda or "Coke" for my Southern readers). For me, this is absolutely incredible!

Spark has been amazing in increasing my energy levels, relieving my migraines, and generally just making me feel fantastic over all!

I want to take a quick moment to say that even if you don't want to take the AdvoCare 24-Day Challenge, you should at least consider giving Spark a chance, especially if you're used to drinking energy drinks on a regular basis. When I drank energy drinks, I always experienced the "crash" by midday. This would, in turn, lead me to drink another Red Bull. By the end of the night, I'd be hit with a second "crash," and I'd wake up feeling like total crap the next day, and the cycle would continue. With Spark, I have not experienced any of the "side effects" that come with drinking energy drinks.

* Product and/or service provided for review without cost. As always, all opinions are my own.
* Any statements made have not been evaluated by the FDA. AdvoCare products are not designed to diagnose, cure, or prevent any disease.

My Experience with The Max Phase

Now that I'm in the AdvoCare 24-Day Challenge Max Phase, I've been taking quite a bit of vitamins and supplements. Each day, I take one MNS strip which includes four individual packs of vitamins and supplements, with two or more in each packet and the OmegaPlex. I'm also taking Catalyst, a companion product.

For some people, this is a lot of pills. For me, however, I've been able to get down those giant prenatal "horse pills," so this part of the challenge is no big deal to me. I haven't had any issues getting them down. I did, however, forget one pack during lunch on the first day of the Max Phase, but I remembered and took it with dinner instead.

I felt great during the Cleanse Phase but I feel better during the Max Phase. My energy levels are pretty high. I've been able to get more done around the house. I feel great when I wake up in the morning. The vitamins and supplements are definitely doing me some good.

Meal Replacement Shakes

During the Max Phase, you'll have a meal replacement shake every morning in place of breakfast. Being a woman who doesn't much care for breakfast, I love this part of the challenge. The AdvoCare Chocolate Mocha Meal Replacement Shake is absolutely delicious and I totally recommend it (and I don't even like coffee)! Yum!

How to Eat While on AdvoCare

Throughout the challenge, I have done my best to eat clean. I've stuck with the plan, eating lean protein, fruit, vegetables, and complex carbs. It's been easy, which is surprising for a woman like me who absolutely loves to eat--especially junk food like pizza, chips, and other terrible carbs. My meals have been satisfying and the supplements have definitely helped to curb any cravings.

Plain couscous with homemade chicken meatballs (made with
spinach, a *teeny* bit of feta cheese, and mini sweet peppers),
and a splash of hot sauce.

I did, however, eat a small chocolate chip cookie one day this week. To me, that's not bad at all. I've avoided sugary products for the duration of the challenge, and figured that one cookie wouldn't hurt. I didn't want to deprive myself of a treat--but I also didn't want to go overboard either. I knew that I could trust myself, so I went right ahead and enjoyed it--without the least bit of guilt!

Weight Loss Photographs

Below, I wanted to share several photographs with you. Take a moment to admire my stretch marks from carrying two children for 9 months each. That's right! I'm a tiger who earned her stripes!

The top row includes the photographs I took on Day 1 of the AdvoCare 24-Day Challenge. The bottom row includes the photographs that I took this morning. On day 10, I didn't feel that there was much of a difference in appearance (although I had lost inches all around), but while comparing Day 1 with Day 16, there is a clear difference.

These pictures motivate me. They make me even more excited for the next eight days. I cannot wait to compare my final results with my "Before" pictures from Day 1.

This journey has been a spectacular one, and I look forwarding to continuing until Day 24 and beyond so that I will achieve the healthy mentality and body that I've always wanted!